BILLABONG IS STOKED TO ANNOUNCE JAY OCCHIPULO AS THE NEWEST ADDITION TO THE AUSTRALIAN SURF TEAM

11 year old Jay Occhilupo, son of surfing legend and 1999 World Champion Mark Occhilupo (Occy), is the newest grom to link up with Billabong. Jay has been one to watch since he first began surfing in Coolangatta as a toddler.

It is clear when you see Jay in the water or at the skate park that the Occhilupo legacy lives on. He is already showing signs of greatness at his local breaks Snapper and Duranbah, as well as tearing up the Coolangatta skate park. When he’s not at school, Jay spends every waking moment surfing and skating, and is clearing doing both beyond his years – scoring consistent final results in Junior contests.

“The Occhilupo-Billabong connection is deep and longstanding, and we’re stoked to see it continue into a new generation. It is both Jay’s unrivalled surfing ability and vibrant personality that has attracted us, and we look forward to nurturing his talent and carving out a bright future together.” – Scott Hargreaves, Billabong Men’s Marketing Manager.

Jay went on his first trip to “the proving grounds” late last year – a month on Hawaii’s North Shore pulling into six footers (triple over-head) and learning from his master father. Jay is now 11 years old – 3 years younger than his father was when he first signed to the Billabong team. Having always been a part of the Billabong family through Mark, Jay can now create his own legacy, and carve out his own way to success.

He’ll join an illustrious group of Billabong surfers – the likes of Joel Parkinson, Taj Burrow, Dave Rastovich, Shane Dorian, and the late Andy Irons – in hopes of learning from them, and eventually surpassing them on his own road toward a possible future world-title.